Totila was a German cargo ship, which sank on May 10, 1944, near Khersones, during the Axis evacuation of the Crimea, killing up to 5,000 German and Romanian soldiers.
The construction of the Tarkhankut lighthouse and its twin tower on the Khersones peninsula started in 1816 to ensure safe sailing in the area.
Together with the Teja, the Totila reached Khersones on May 10, and both ships were immediately loaded with German and Romanian soldiers and then headed back to Constanța.